Pan African Visions

Mozambique:We have asked for foreign military help, says Nyusi

April 08, 2021

By Jorge Joaquim

President Filipe Nyusi

The government has told other countries its needs for fighting terrorism and is evaluating those needs, President Filipe Nyusi has said. Speaking yesterday, Nyusi did not go into details about what help had been requested, but said that Mozambicans had to lead the fight.

The president warned that it was divisive to attribute the terrorists’ actions to Islam, saying that they did not represent Islamic values and that Muslims were also among their victims.

Nyusi acknowledged that the war would not be won only through military means and that employment and occupation of young people were also important.

Nyusi also announced that his government has launched a thorough investigation into alleged human rights violations by members of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) fighting insurgents in Cabo Delgado.

Such abuses would not be tolerated, “and appropriate measures will be taken," against those found guilty, he said in a speech to the country.

The trust and cooperation of the population was essential to win the war against this insurgency, as it had been during the war of independence, he said, adding that all soldiers received instruction in ethics as part of their military training.

The human rights campaign group Amnesty International this week reiterated its demand for the investigation of possible human rights abuses by the armed forces in Cabo Delgado province.

So far, all actors in the conflict - the FDS, private security firms, mercenary troops and the insurgents – have acted with “total impunity,” according to Amnesty International.

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